Manifolding register



Oct. 28, 1941. w. G. BORCHERS MANIiF'OLDING REGISTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 5, 1940 ssaacmv INVENTOR w 5 0 Y 5% a 10 m .mB

Oct. 28, 1941.. w. G. BORCHERS MANIFOLDING REGISTER Filed Sept. 5, 19402 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR V/ Z Z [am G. Bore/2- 6215' BY M") ATTORNEYSPatented Oct. 28, 1941 MANIFOLDING REGISTER William G. Borchcrs,'Hoboken, N. -J., assignor to Autographic Register N. J., acorporationof New Jersey Company, Hoboken,

Application September '5, 1940, Serial No. 355,417

I Cl.-28221') W formeregistering apertures in,.-each form length .20Claims.

This invention relates to manifolding.

An object of the invention is .to provideimproved means for feeding aplurality of continuous strips over a writing platen, automaticallystopping the advance of the strips when each has been fed a form lengthand also for adjusting. the strips in accurate registration witheachother and with severing vmeansfor tearing the strips along apredetermined severing line.

Heretofore this was accomplished by providing in the body of .each formlength of therecord strips one or more apertures through which annularfeeding means extends, said means becoming inoperative thereby toadvance said strip or strips until the saidstrips are restarted byauxiliary means. The purpose of the auxiliary means is to move therecord strips sufliciently in feeding direction to shift thesaidapertures beyond the feeding means. Thus when each feeding operationis complete, the form lengths of the strip are .halted and maintainedinregistration by entranceof the feeding means into the apertures of thesuperposed strips in one set of form lengths. The strips are advancedagainst the tension-of retarding means which are, intended to preventoverthrow of the strips and attendant malregistration.

However, in vmanifolding registers of this type, difliculty has beenencountered especially in feeding manifolding stationery in which thesuperposed strips possessed different physical characteristics, forinstance, different Weight or different surface properties. It has beenfound under these conditions that it is difficult to ad'- just theregister so that all of the forms are I properly aligned andso thatoverthrow beyond a predetermined tear-01f point does not occur.

These difiiculties are aggravated by variations in the manner ofoperating .manifolding registers by different operators. Some operatorsturn the feeding means slowly and smoothly, While others use a rapid andmore or less jerky motion. As will hereinafter appear, this difficultyhas been overcome by provision of novel and improved feeding meansaccording to the present invention.

An'object of the present invention is to pro vide feeding means whichoperates in a novel and valuable way during the feeding of each formlength of a plurality of strips and particularly during the concludingpart of each form-feeding operation.

More specifically, an object of the present inventionis to provide, incombination with a main feeding means becoming inoperative to furtheradvance the superposed strips upon entering strip, advancement forfeeding the of said strips for partially registering said strips witheach other, an auxiliary feeding vi ansfor resuming advancement of thesaid strips after said'main feeding .meanshas .become inoperative asjust .stated, said auxiliary feeding. means becoming itself inoperativeby reason of .its entering secondary feed-arresting form-registeringapertures in longitudinal alignment with the first-named apertures inthe same form length whereby the. superposed strips are accuratelyregisteredboth in transverse and longitudinal direction before ,asevering line between successive form lengths reaches apredeterminedsever ing station on they machine; said main feeding means reengagingthe strips as said severing line attains saidsevering station to againresume-the next form length. 2 :Another object of the present inventionis to provide. in combination with the improved means of the kinddescribed for advancing a plurality of record strips one form length foreach operation thereof, means for stopping such advancing means aftereach successive form length of a I plurality of superposed record stripshas been advanced to a predetermined position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide strip-advancingmeans capable of operating as hereinbefore described, including astripfeeding means,for instance, feed disks, the operative peripheriesofwhichengage the strip closely adjacent to the margins thereof, wherebythe use of marginal notches or indentations on the strips asfeed-arresting apertures is made possible.

In attaining the foregoing and other objects, the present inventionprovides an exceedingly sturdy, dependable and inexpensive feedingmeans, The said main and auxiliary feeding means are adapted bycooperating with two longitudinally aligned sets of feed-arresting,formregistering apertures in each form length to interrupt advancementof the said strips twice during each form length feeding operation, uponentering said sets of alterations, engagement of the main feeding meansWith the first set registering said strips in longitudinal direction andof the auxiliary feeding means with the second set of alterationsregistering the strips accurately both in transverse and longitudinaldirection, each time a set of forms is advanced to a position forremoval, by a continuous movement in a single direction of a singleactuator, preferably by a single rotation of a handle offset from arotary shaft.

In the embodiment of this invention, herein disclosed, the arrangementis such that two sets of alterations in each form length may belongitudinally aligned with each other. This permits the incorporationof both main and auxiliary feeding means in a single operator, such as afeed disk, said disk being operably associated with means for reengagingeach of said feeding means with the strips of stationery to resume stripadvancement after each form-registering interruption thereof.

The physical alterations in the strips of stationery are preferablylocated near the longitudinal edges of the strips and when this is donethe provision of the two sets of alterations in longitudinal alignmentprovides additional space for printed matter in the area in which theprinting usually occurs in-between the longitudinal margins of thestrips.

Further advantages and objects will be appreciated from the followingdescription referring to the illustrative embodiments shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partially in cross-section, of a form ofmanifolding device according to the invention, showing in dotted linesthe location of feeding disks carrying restarting shoes which constitutemain and auxiliary feeding means adapted to engage manifolding stripsmarginally notched and apertured at both sides of the strip, portions ofthe strips being cut away to show underlying portions of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section substantially along the line22 of the device of Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail of a manifoldingstrip showing in dotted lines the initial position of the main feedingmeans for feeding a form length of manifolding stationery.

Fig. 4 is a similar to Fig. 3, but shows the position of the mainfeeding means as the strip advancement is interrupted for the first timein the feeding of a form length.

Fig. 5 is also similar to Fig. 3, but shows the position of the feedingmechanism as the auxiliary feeding means engages the record strip.

Fig. 6 is likewise similar to Fig. 3, but shows the position of thefeeding mechanism after strip advancement is halted for the second timeduring the feeding of a form length by the auxiliary feeding meansentering a secondary set of alterations for accurate registration of thesuperposed strips and the main feeding means is about to engage themanifolding strips.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the feeding means in the position shownin Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view similar to Fig. '7, showing the position ofthe feeding means as indicated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the feeding means in a positioncorresponding to that shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view ofthe feeding means in the positioncorresponding to Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross-section substantiallyalong the line 2-2' in Fig. 1, showing in detail a tensioning andretarding means for the superposed strips of manifolding stationery.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 11 which exemplify an embodiment of themanifolding device according to the present invention, the same is shownas including a casing l0, having a storage compartment ll, containing astack I2 of zigzag folded multiple manifolding strips l3 crossed atform-length intervals by severing lines 14, which may be suitably formedby perforations in the superposed strips.

These form lengths are arranged in the device according to practice wellunderstood in the art. The superposed strips [3 are carried above aplaten l6 and interleaved with transfer sheets l3a which may besupported in any manner known in the art. After successive form lengths,e. g. l5a and lb, have been given the desired notations while positionedon the platen 16, the strips are advanced to bring a following set offorms into a like position on the platen. The lowermost of thesuperposed strips is diverted downward by means of a deflector Il into arecord storage compartment l8 while the other strips are advanced overthe top of said deflector to rest upon the forward roof [9 of the casingand adjusted to bring the severing line I4 between successive formlengths under a severing edge 20 carried by a margin or cover plate 22which extends over the feeding mechanism. The diverted lowermost stripis refolded in a stack 2| in a record storage compartment.

Details of the casing are unimportant, and the showing thereof is morediagrammatical than otherwise to simplify the drawings. However, it maybe further pointed out that the manifolding strips 13 in approaching theplaten l6 pass over a guide roller 23 and a plurality of guide rollers24 and 24a beneath the cover and margin plate 22. 1

Each of the guide rollers 24 carries at its midportion a thin tensioningplate 43 pivotally attached to the roller by a hooked flange and adaptedto extend from the top of the roller between the superposed strips ofmanifolding material l3 a short distance over the receiving end of theplaten IS. A resilient finger 44 affixed to the undersurface of thecover.plate 22 in alignment with said tensioning plates exerts pressureon the topmost strip compressing the superposed strips and interleavedtensioning plates against the end of the platen. The several strips arethus subjected to an equal retarding tension to prevent overthrow of thestrips and consequent malregistration thereof.

The feeding means comprises a pair of disks 25 which engage theunderside of the lowermost sheet of the multiple record strip 13cooperating with overlying rollers 26 fixed on a rotating shaft 21, theends of which are suitably mounted for rotation in vertical slottedextensions 28 of vertical bearing plates 29. The roller shaft 21' isurged downward by springs, not shown',. but familiar in the art -toeffect engagement of the uppermost record strip by said rollers.

The action of the said springs compresses the record strips between saiddisks and feed rollers whereby the feed disks are adapted to advance thestrips upon rotation ata rate equal to the peripheral speed of saiddisks.

. The feed disks 25 are adapted to rotate .at the same peripheral speedas the rollers 26, suitable gearing being provided therefor. The disks'25 are secured on a rotary shaft 30.journaled at each end through thebearing plates 29. Agear 3| is fixed on said shaft and said ear mesheswith a suitable pinion 32 secured to the shaft 21. The operating shafthas a crank arm 33 fixed thereon carrying a handle 34 to facilitatemanual versely of the machine so that they register with the marginalcutaway portions or notches and with the circular apertures 39 of therecord strips I3- I In order to guide the strips I3 overtheend's. of theinterleaved transfer sheets I3a and to prevent catching of the marginalnotches 35 or apertures 39 thereon, each of the guide rollers 24 carriesat each end a pair of flaps of smooth surfaced fabric which extendforward a short distance above and below each of the transfer sheetsI3a. Thus the said flaps guide the margins of eachstrip over thetransfer sheets preventing the notches 35and apertures 39 of themanifolding strips from contacting the forward ends of said transfersheets and insuring smooth feeding of the strips to a position above theplaten.

Each of the feed disks 25 is provided with a pair of laterally extendingstarting shoes 36 and 31, the outer surfaces of which constitute lateralextensions of the peripheral feeding surface of the said disks. The saidshoes extend inward with reference to the margin of the manifoldingstrips beyond the notches 35 and apertures 39 and rollers 26 arecorrespondingly extended in such a manner that the said shoes cooperatewith said rollers to engage the manifolding strips when either of theshoes has reached a position below said rollers.

The shoes 36 as well as the shoes 31 on therespective feeding disks 25are in transverse alignment with each other, but'the said shoes arespaced apart angularly upon each of said disks by a distance slightlyexceeding the spacing between the notches 35 and apertures 39. shoe 35and the minor feeding periphery of the disk 25 between the shoe 36 andthe shoe 31 constitute the auxiliary feeding means, while the shoe 3?and the major feeding periphery of the disk 25 between the shoe 31 andthe shoe 36 con-'' Thus, after stitute the main feeding means. stripadvancement by the main feeding means is interrupted by entrance of themajor, feeding surface of feed disks 25 and rollers 26, into notches 35,shoe 3'6 cooperates. with roller 26 upon continued rotation of the feeddisks toreengage the said manifolding strips with the minor feedinsurface of the disks, moving the said notches beyond the bite of saidrollers and disks and resuming advance of the stationery by theauxiliary feeding means. As the minor feeding surface of feed disks 25and rollers 26 enter the apertures 39, strip advancement is againinterrupted until shoes 31 and rollers 26 engage the said strips uponcontinued rotation The of the disks 25, whereby :the said apertures aremoved beyond the bite of said rollers and disks and the stripadvancement by the main feeding means isagain resumed.

Upon entrance of the feed disks 25 and rollers 26 into the notches 35,said disks and rollers cooperate with the transverse leading-edge of thesaid notches, tending to register the superposed strips. in longitudinaldirection. Registration, however, as hereinbefore stated, is often noteffective to accurately register the superposed strips. Entrance of thesaid disks and rollers into the circular apertures 39, however, reregisters the said strips both in longitudinal and transversedirection andaccurately positions the said strips. Such registration andreregistration preferablyoccurs before the severing line I4 be.- tweenthe successive formlengths has reached thetearing edge-20, andpreferably restarting shoes 31 or disks 25 reengage the said stripsbefore the severing line I4 reaches said tearing edge.

Releasablelstop means are provided to halt rotation of. the. shaft 30 asthe severing line I4 q reaches a position below the tearing edge 20 asset forthinthe foregoingdescription. This occurs. justzafter the feeddisks 25 or shoes 31 have reengaged the record. strips I3,-after stripad-- vancement has been interrupted by apertures 39.

--. The stop means maybe'of any suitable con- 1 112,511, filed November24, 1936, which has maretracted position.

tured into United States Patent No. 2,212,853, issued August 27, 1940,according to which two pins v-II and 42 are mounted in a housing 43fastened to the interior'wall of a casing ID, said pins beinginterconnected so as to be alternately projected into the path of thecrank 33 carried by the operating shaft 39 of the feed mechanism. Aspring, not shown, normally urges pin 4| into projected position whilepin 42 is retained in Pin 4I is bevelled on the forwardside whichinitially engages the crank 33 as it is rotated in forward direction sothat thehandle upon engaging said bevelled surface pushes p-in 4| intoretracted position while pin j 42 is projected in such a manner as toengage said crank. The latter pin'42 acts as a stop,

halting further motion of the crank. However,

since the said pins are spaced apart a distance slightly greater thanthe width of the handle 33, the pin 4|. is released by the handle assoon as it strikes pin 42. Thus, as the handle is released by theoperator in .the final stopping position, the aforesaid, spring.retracts pin 42, again projecting pin 4!, and leaving the handle free tofeed the next form length of manifolding stationery.

Figs. 3 to 6 and corresponding Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive show afeed-roller and feed disk, the latter carrying a pairof restartingshoes, in the consecutive positions which they occupy during the feedingoperation.

Consecutive operation of the machine described and illustrated herein is.as follows:

Referring to Figs. 3 and '7, a manifolding strip I13 is shown in itsinitial position, the stop means, for instance, pins M and 42 referredto in the foregoing description, having arrested the crank 33 in thefinal position and form length I5 of the manifolding stationery beingdispos'ed'for issuance. The. minor feeding periphery of feed disk 25 androller 26, constituting the auxiliary feeding means, have enteredaperture 39 in the following form length 15 of the manifolding strip toeffect accurate registration of the various superposed strips intransverse as Well as longitudinal direction andshoe 31, whichconstitutes a part of the main manifolding means, has reengaged saidstrip for moving the aperture 39 beyond the bite of the feed roller 26and feed disk 25. The resulting forward motion has advanced the stripsslightly to bring the severing line I4 under the tearing edge of themanifolding machine.

The issued form length I of the manifolding strip l3 may be torn offalong the severing line [4, engagement of the shoe 31, and rollers 26,at opposite sides of the strip preventing displacement of the saidstrip, and the friction of the movable parts of the feed mechanismpreventing rotation thereof by the tension applied to the strips l3during such tearing operation.

After inscription of the succeeding form length l5, the operating shaft36 and crank 33 are rotated by turning the handle 34, the major feedingperiphery of feed disks 25 cooperating with rollers 26 to advance theform length l5. Said form length is shorter than the major operativeperiphery of the disk 25 between the shoe 3'! and the shoe 36. Hence,before completion of one revolution of the shaft and before shoe 36reaches a position below roller 26, notch 35 has moved to the positionshown in Figs. 4 and 8 between the feed disk and roller 26 rendering themain feeding means inoperative to advance the strip further. Entrance ofthe feed disk and roller into said notch effects a degree ofregistration of the superposed strips, especially in lengthwisedirection. However, such registration is often not accurate especiallywhen the strips are of different physical characteristics or if theoperation of the feed is relatively rapid, jerky or variable.

Rotation of the operating shaft 30 is continued, the strips l3 remainingstationary until shoe 36 moves into a position to engage strips l3between its operative surface 36a and the roller 26 as shown in Figs. 5and 9. By this means, advancement of the strip by the auxiliary feedingmeans is resumed, notch 35 being moved beyond the bite of the roller 26and feed disk 25, and the strips advanced a short distance until saidroller and disk enter feed-arresting, form-registering aperture 39 inthe strips as shown in Figs. 6 and 10. As roller 26 and the minorfeeding periphery of disk 25 enter aperture 39, complete and accurateregistration of the superposed sheets with each other in transverse andlongitudinal directions is effected. The severing line l4 between formlengths l5 and I5" is moved by the aforesaid operation to a positionjust in advance of the tearing edge 20.

As rotation of the handle 34 completes one revolution, shoe 3! androller 26 reengage the said strips moving the strip forward by a slightincrement into a position shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The severing line H isthereby accurately positioned below the tearing edge 20. The stop meanshereinbefore described operates to arrest rotation of the handle 34 andcrank 33 when this position is attained. The mechanism is now in aposition for tearing off the issued form lengths, the main feeding meanshaving reengaged the succeeding form length l5" by moving aperture 39beyond the bite of roller 26 and feed disk 25.

If desired, by suitable disposition of the stop means, the finalincrement through which the strip is moved to bring the severing line [4below the tearing edge 20 may be decreased until it is substantiallynil, the final position of said severing line being attained when shoe3! and roller 26 have just reengaged the strips [3 after said stripshave been reregistered by entrance of feed disks 25 and roller 26 intoapertures 39. Similarly said increment may be somewhat increased, shoe3'! moving just beyond roller 26, and feed disk 25 engaging the stripsin cooperation with roller 26.

Other forms of stop means, for instance, a detent or manually releasablestop means may be substituted for the automatic releasing stop meanshereinbefore described.

Instead of providing notches for the purpose of initially arrestingoperation of the feeding means, apertures of any form may be used.Marginal notches, however, are preferred, since they require fewer diesfor manufacturing the multiple record strips than apertures provided inthe body of said strips. The said notches preferably coincide with thesevering lines l4 to facilitate tearing of the issued record strips l3along the tearing edge 20 and also to facilitate the zigzag folding ofthe manifolding stationery.

It is not necessary that one edge of notches 35 be made perpendicular tothe margins of the record strips, as shown. This form of notch effectsbetter registration in the form of longitudinal direction, but sinceaccurate registration is effected according to the present invention bythe secondary circular apertures, the said edges may be cut at an angleother than a right angle to the edges of the stationery.

Furthermore, it is possible to dispose the sets of feed-arrestingalterations transversely of the strip, in any portion thereof. However,marginal alterations are preferred in order to effect betterregistration of the superposed sheets, and to permit more space in eachform length for printing. While in the machine illustrated in mycopending application Serial No. 339,418, above referred to, the twosets of feed-arresting, form-registering alterations are spaced fromeach other transversely of the sheet, it is often desirable to avoidsuch spacing of two sets of alterations of apertures in order to provideroom for printing on each form length of the manifolding stationery. Inthe embodiment of my invention, illustrated and described herein, it ispossible to provide two sets of physical alterations in the manifoldingstrip which are longitudinally aligned with each other and which, ashereinbefore stated, may be positioned adjacent the margin of thesheets, leaving the central portion of the strips free for desiredindicia.

Sincestarting and stopping of the writing strips depend solely upon theposition of the apertures and notches therein, forms of any sheet lengthmay be used provided such sheet lengths are less than the majoroperative periphery of the feed disks 25 between the shoes 31 and 36, inorder that one revolution of the feeding means should advance the stripby one form or sheet length. However, if longer form lengths are used,exceeding the total periphery of the disks 25, the machine may beoperated to effect similar registration of the superposed form lengths,but more than one revolution of the feed mechanism is required to feedone form length of such stationery.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the-improvements may be used without others.

' I claim:

1. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a Series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines, each form length having a plurality offeed-arresting, form-registering physical alterations in mutuallongitudinal alignment; and means for advancing said plurality ofstrips, said means being aligned with said physical alterations, andincluding a main feeding means cooperating with certain of said physicalalterations to interrupt feeding of said strips and to bring thesuperposed form lengths of the several strips into registration before asevering line between two form lengths reaches a predetermined positionon the machine, and supplementary feeding means for resuming advancementof said strips, the latter means cooperating with the other physicalalterations to again. in terrupt the feeding of said strips and toaccurately reregister the superposed form lengths by the time saidsevering line reaches said predetermined position.

2. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines, each form length having a plurality offeed-arresting, form-regis. tering physicalalterations in mutuallongitudinal alignment; and means for advancing said plurality ofstrips, said means being aligned with said physical alterations andincluding a main feeding means cooperating with certain of said physicalalterations to interrupt feeding of said strips and to bring thesuperposed form lengths of the several strips into registration before asevering line betwen two form lengths reaches a predetermined positionon the machine, and supplementary-feeding means for resuming advancementof said strips, the latter means cooperating with the other physicalalterations to again, interrupt the feeding of said strips and toaccurately reregister the superposed form lengths by the time saidsevering line reaches said predetermined position; said main feedingmeans again resuming advancement of said strips after the latterinterruption in the feed thereof.

3. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthshaving a plurality of feed-arresting, form-registering physicalalterationsin mutual longitudinal alignment; and means for advancingsaid plurality of strips, said means being aligned-with said physicalalterations and including: a mainfeeding means cooperating with 'cert'ainof said physical alterations to interrupt feedingof said stripsand to bring the superposed form. lengths of the several strips intoregistration before a severing line between two form lengths reaches a,predetermined, position on the machine, and supplementary feeding meansfor resuming advancement of said strips, the latter means co,- operatingwith the other physical alterationsv to again interrupt the feeding ofsaid strips and to accurately reregister the superposed form lengths bythe time said severing line reaches, said predetermined position, said.auxiliary feeding means moving the first-named alterations, beyond thebite of the main feeding, means and the main feeding means moving thelatterset of alterations beyond the bite of the auxiliary feeding meansto permit resumption ofthe feed.

by said main and auxiliary feeding means respectively.

a predetermined position on the machine, and

supplementary feeding means for resuming advancement of said strips,thelatter'nieans cooperating with the other physical alterations toagain interrupt the feeding of said strips and to accurately reregisterthe superposed form lengths by the time said severipg line reaches saidpredetermined position, said main-feeding means again resumingadvancement of said strips after the latter interruption in the feedthereof, and said main and auxiliary feeding means engagingsaid stripsalternately for advancement thereof. l

5. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips, each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines, each form length having a plurality-offeed-arresting, form-registering physical alterations in mutuallongitudinal alignment; and rotary means for advancing said plurality ofstrips, said, means being'aligned with said physical alterations andincluding a main rotary feeding means cooperating. with certain of saidphysical alterations tointerrupt feed of said strips and to bring thesuperposed form lengths of the several strips into registration before asevering line between two form lengths reaches a predetermined severancepoint on the machine, and supplementary rotary feeding means forresumingadvancement of said strips, the latter means cooperating withthe other physical alterations to again-interrupt the feeding of saidstrips and to accuratelyreregister the superposed form lengths by thetimev said severing line reaches said predetermined position, onerotation of said feeding meanseffecting advancement of said strips byone form length.

6. In a manifolding machine,,.a platen adapted to-s'upporta plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a seriesof form' lengthsby transverse severing lines, each form length I having a plurality offeed-arresting, form-regis-v tering physical, alterationsin mutuallongitudinal alignment; a severance station on'the machine; means forvadvancing said plurality of strips, said means beingaligned with saidphysical alterations, and including a main feeding means cooperatingwith certain of said physical alterations to interrupt thefeed of saidstrips: and. to bring the superposed form lengths of the several stripsinto registration, before a severing line between two form lengths.reaches said severance station on the machine, and supplementary feedingmeans for resuming advancement; of said strips, the latter meanscooperating with thecther physical alterations tofagainina terrupt thevfeeding of said strips and to. accurately reregister the superposed formlengthsby the time said severing line reaches said severance,

station; common driving means for said main and supplementary feedingmeans; and means for releasably stopping operation of said driving meanswhen said severing line has reached said severance station on themachine.

'7. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines, each form length having a plurality offeed-arresting, form-registering physical alterations in mutuallongitudinal alignment; a severance station on the machine; means foradvancing said plurality of strips, said means being aligned with saidphysical alterations, and including a main feeding means cooperatingwith certain of said physical alterations to interrupt the feed of saidstrips and to bring the superposed form lengths of the several stripsinto registration before a severing line between two form lengthsreaches said severance station on the machine, and supplementary feedingmeans for resuming advancement of said strips, the latter meanscooperating with the other physical alterations to again interrupt thefeeding of said strips and to accurately reregister the superposed formlengths by the time said severing line reaches said severance station,said main feeding means again resuming advancement of said strips afterthe latter interruption of the feed; common driving means for said mainand supplementary feeding means; and means for releasably stoppingoperation of said driving means when said main feeding means hasreengaged the strip and said severing line has reached said severancestation on the feeding of said strips and to bring the superposed formlengths of the several strips into longitudinal registration before asevering line between two form lengths reaches a predetermined positionon the machine, and supplementary feeding means for resuming advancementof said strips, the latter means cooperating with the other set ofphysical alterations to again interrupt feeding of said strips and toaccurately reregister the super-posed form lengths both in longitudinaland transverse direction by the time said severing line reaches saidpredetermined position.

9. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse. severing lines, each form length having two sets offeed-arresting, form-registering alterations longitudinally alignedadjacent the margins of said strip and spaced apart in each form length,and each set being transversely aligned across said strips; means foradvancing said strips, said means being aligned with said physicalalterations and including a main feeding means cooperating with one setof said physical alterations to interrupt feeding of said strips and tobring the superposed form lengths of the several strips intolongitudinal registration before a severing line between two formlengths reaches a predetermined position on the machine, andsupplementary feeding means for resuming advancement of said strips, thelatter means cooperating with the other set of physical alterations toagain interrupt feeding of said strips and to accurately reregister thesuperposed form lengths both in longitudinal and transverse direction bythe time said severing line reaches said predetermined position.

10. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines and each form length having two sets offeed-arresting, form-registering alterations, said sets of physicalalterations being spaced apart and mutually aligned longitudinally ofsaid strips; means for advancing said plurality of strips, said meansbeing aligned with both of said sets of alterations and cooperatingsuccessively therewith to interrupt the advancement of said stripsduring the feeding of each form length for accurately registering saidsuperposed strips transversely and longitudinally by the time atransverse severing line between two successive form lengths attains apredetermined position on the machine; and restarting means for movingeach of said sets of alterations beyond the bite of said stripadvancingmeans for resuming advancement of said strips.

11. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines and each form length having two sets offeed-arresting, form-registering alterations, said sets of alterationsbeing spaced apart lengthwise and mutually aligned longitudinally ofsaid strips; rotary means for advancing said plurality of strips, saidmeans being aligned with both of said sets of alterations andcooperating successively therewith to interrupt the advancement of saidstrips twice during feeding of each form length for accuratelyregistering said superposed strips transversely and longitudinally bythe time a transverse severing line between two successive form lengthsattains a predetermined position on the machine; and a pair ofrestarting means carried by said rotary means and spaced apart by adistance greater than the longitudinal spacing of said sets ofalterations in each form length of said strips, the latter means movingeach of said sets of alterations beyond the bite of said strip-advancingmeans for resumting advancement of said strips.

12. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines and each form length having two sets offeed-arresting, form-registering alterations, said sets of physicalalterations being spaced apart and mutually aligned longitudinally ofsaid strips; a severance station on said machine; means in advance ofsaid severance station for advancing said plurality of strips towardsaid severance station, said means being aligned with both of said setsof alterations and cooperating successively therewith to interrupt theadvancement of said strips twice during the feeding of each form lengthfor accurately registering said superposed strips transversely andlongitudinally by the time a transverse severing line between twosuccessive form lengths attains said severance station on the machine;restarting means for moving each of said sets of alterations beyond thebite of said strip-advancing means for resuming advancement of saidstrips; common driving means for said strip-advancing means and forsaidrestarting means; and releasable stop means for automaticallyhalting operation of said driving means when the said; severing linereaches said severance station on the machine.

13. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a pluralityof'superposed continuous strips each divided into a series of formlengths by transverse severing lines and each form length having twosets of feed-arresting, form-registering alterations, said sets ofalterations being spaced apart and mutually aligned longitudinally ofsaid strips; a severance station on said machine; means for advancingsaid plurality of strips toward said severance station, said means beingaligned with both of said sets of alterations and cooperatingsuccessively therewith to interrupt the advancement of said strips twiceduring the feeding of each form length for accurately registering saidsuperposed strips transversely and longitudinally by the time atransverse severing line between two successive form lengths attainssaid severance station on the machine; and restarting means for movingeach of said sets of alterations beyond the bite of said strip-advancingmeans for resuming advancement of said strips, said restarting meansreengaging said strips by the time said'severing line reaches saidseverance station.

14. In a manifolding machine a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines and each form length having two sets offeed-arresting, form-registering alterations, said sets of alterationsbeing spaced apart and mutually aligned longitudinally of said strips;means for advancing said plurality of strips comprising a plurality offeed disks carried by a rotary shaft; said disks being in alignment withsaid feedarresting, form-registering alterations, and a rollercooperating with said disks, said strip-advancing means cooperatingsuccessively with said sets of alterations to interrupt the advancementof said strips twice during the feeding of each form length foraccurately registering said superposed strips transversely andlongitudinally by the time a severing line between the two successiveform lengths attains a predetermined severance point on the machine; andrestarting means comprising a pair of starter shoes carried by saidshaft and arcuately spaced apart by a distance greater than the spacingof said sets of alterations, and a roller cooperating with said shoesfor moving each of said sets of alterations beyond the bite of said feeddisks and feed roller for resuming advancement of said strips.

15. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby tranverse severing lines and each form length having two sets offeed-arresting, form-registering alterations, said sets of alterationsbeing spaced apart and mutually aligned longitudinally of said strips; asevering station upon said machine; means for advancing said pluralityof strips toward said severing station comprising a plurality of feeddisks carried by a rotary shaft, said disks being in alignment with saidfeed-arresting, form-registering alterations,

and a roller cooperating with said disks, said feed disks and rollercooperating successively withsaid sets of' alterations to interrupt theadvancement of said strips twice during the feeding of each form lengthfor accurately registering said superposed strips transversely andlongitudinally by the time a. severing line between twosuccessive formlengths attains said severing station on the machine; restarting meanscomprising a pair of starter shoes carried by saidshaft and arcuatelyspaced apart by a distance greater than the spacing of said sets ofalterations, and a roller cooperating with said shoes for moving each ofsaid sets of alterations beyond the bite of said feed disks and feedroller for resuming advancement of said strips; and releasable stopmeans for arresting the operation of said strip-advancing and'restartingmeans when said severing line reaches said severing station on themachine, said strips being reengaged by said strip-advancing means bythe time said severing line attains said severing station. I

16. In a manifolding-machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines and each form length having two sets offeed-arresting, form-registering alterations, said sets of alterationsbeing spaced apart and mutually aligned longitudinally of said strip;means for advancing said plurality of strips comprising a plurality offeed disks carried bya rotary shaft, said disks being in alignment withsaid feedarresting, form-registering alterations and a rollercooperating with said disks, said feed disks cooperating successivelywith said sets of alterations to interrupt advancement of said stripstwice during the feed of each form length for accurately registeringsaid superposed strips transversely and longitudinally by the time asevering line between two successive form lengths attains apredetermined severance point on the machine; and restarting meanscomprising a pair of starter shoes carried by said feed disks andarcuately spaced apart by a distance greater than the spacing of saidsets of alterations, said shoes extending laterally beyond said physicalalterations and a roller cooperating with said shoes for moving each ofsaid sets of alterations beyond the bite of said feed roller and feeddisks for resuming advancement of said strips.

1'7. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a pluralityof superposed continuous strips each divided into a series of formlengths by transverse severing lines and each form length having twosets of feed-arresting, form-registering alterations, the first setcomprising a pair of marginal notches transversely aligned across saidstrips, the second set comprising a pair of apertures alignedlongitudinally with said notches to the rear thereof; means foradvancing said plurality of strips comprising a pair of feed diskscarried by a rotary shaft, said disks being in alignment with saidmarginal feed-arresting, form-registering alterations and a rollercooperating with said disks, said feed disks cooperating successivelywith said notches and apertures to interrupt the advancement of saidstrip twice during the feeding of each form length for accuratelyregistering the superposed strips transversely and longitudinally by thetime a severing line between two successive form lengths attains apredetermined severance point on the machine; and restarting meanscomprising a pair of starter shoes carried by each of said disksarcuately spaced apart by a distance greater than the spacing of saidnotches and apertures and extending inward from said feed disks beyondthe limits of said alterations, and a roller cooperating with saidshoes, for moving said notches and apertures beyond the bite of saidfeed disks and feed roller for resuming advancement of said strips.

18. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines and each form length having two sets offeed-arresting, form-registering alterations, the first set comprising apair of marginal notches, the leading edge of which coincides with saidtransverse severing lines, and the other set comprising a pair ofapertures within each form length longitudinally aligned with saidnotches and positioned to the rear thereof; a severing station upon saidmachine; means disposed ahead of said severing station for advancingsaid plurality of strips toward said severing station comprising a pairof feed disks in alignment with said notches and apertures carried by arotary shaft, and a roller cooperating with said disks, said feed diskscooperating successively with said sets of alterations to interrupt theadvancement of said strips twice during the feeding of each form length,cooperation of said disks with said notches registering said superposedstrips longitudinally, and cooperation of said disks with said aperturesaccurately registering said superposed strips transversely andlongitudinally by the time a severing line between two successive formlengths attains said severance station on the machine; restarting meanscomprising a pair of starter shoes carried by said disks arcuatelyspaced apart by a distance greater than the spacing between said notchesand apertures in each form length and extending inwardly from said disksbeyond said notches and apertures, and a roller cooperating with saidshoes for moving each of said sets of alterations beyond the bite ofsaid feed disks and feed roller for resuming advancement of said strips;and releasable stop means for arresting operation of said feed diskswhen said severing line attains said severance station, said feed disksreengaging the superposed strips by the time said severing line attainssaid severing station.

19. A strip-feeding disk adapted to cooperate with a series offeed-arresting, form-registering apertures in a plurality of superposedstrips of manifolding stationery for arresting advancement of saidstrips and registering the superposed form lengths thereof, said diskhaving a plurality of arcuately spaced starting shoes laterally offsetfrom the strip-engaging surface of the disk for resuming advancement ofsaid manifolding stationery.

20. In a manifolding machine, a platen adapted to support a plurality ofsuperposed continuous strips each divided into a series of form lengthsby transverse severing lines and each form length having two sets offeed-arresting, form-registering alterations, said sets of alterationsbeing spaced apart and mutually aligned longitudinally of said strips;means for advancing said plurality of strips comprising a pair of feeddisks carried by a rotary shaft, said disks being in alignment with saidfeed-arresting, form-registering alterations and a roller cooperatingwith said disks, said feed disks cooperating successively with said setsof alterations to interrupt the advancement of said strips twice duringthe feeding of each form length for accurately registering saidsuperposed strips transversely and longitudinally by the time a severingline between two form lengths attains a predetermined severance point onthe machine; and restarting means comprising a pair of starter shoes-carried by said feed disks and extending laterally beyond said physicalalterations and a roller cooperating with said shoes, for moving saidsets of alterations beyond the bite of said feed roller and feed disksto resume advancement of the strips, said shoes being arcuately spacedapart on the periphery of said disks-by a distance greater than thespacing of said sets of alterations in each form length, and theremainder of the periphery of said disks exceeding the distance betweenadjacent sets of alterations in successive form lengths, whereby onerotation of said feed disks is adapted to feed one form length of saidstrips.

WILLIAM G. BORCHERS.

